Alasdair Sandford

The British Prime Minister has again clashed in parliament in the face of opposition charges that the government has no plan for Brexit.

Theresa May refused to elaborate on how the UK plans to leave the EU following the summer referendum, and still trade with the bloc.

“What we want to see is the best possible arrangement for trade with and operation within the single European market for business in goods and services here in the United Kingdom,” May told the House of Commons.

Afterwards some campaigners for a so-called “hard Brexit” who want to leave the single market said they were worried by what she did say.

Worrying comments from PM hinting at cont'd Single Market membership -to accept this position would be clear betrayal of the British people. pic.twitter.com/8KhwrmHgnW

The Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said while Brexit was supposed to be about taking back control, neither Britain’s devolved governments nor business nor parliament knew what the government’s plan was.

“When will the prime minister abandon this shambolic Tory Brexit and develop a plan that delivers for the whole country,” he demanded.

Downing Street has played down the significance of comments made by Theresa May before the referendum expressing fears that companies might leave the UK if it was outside the EU.

The Guardian published details of a leaked recording of a private meeting she held with Goldman Sachs.

“If we were not in Europe, I think there would be firms and companies who would be looking to say, do they need to develop a mainland Europe presence rather than a UK presence? So I think there are definite benefits for us in economic terms,” the prime minister is heard saying.

“I think the economic arguments are clear. I think being part of a 500-million trading bloc is significant for us.”

May, who backed Remain, goes on to cite the economic benefits of being in Europe.

Her office says she made the same points publicly at the time but is now dedicated to making Brexit work.